(Jayden)

"Good afternoon everyone!" My choir director Ms. Garcia said as everyone entered.

I looked over my shoulder, Oh good, Bianca's here I thought to myself. My best friend Bianca sat across the bleachers. I waved and she waved back. I took my place beside Rachelle who smiled. I smiled back trying not to be rude. Rachelle was really nice to me and I enjoyed talking about our stories together. Little did I know, today was going to end badly between the two of us.

We began our vocal warm ups. I noticed that Rachelle was staring at me. That's not weird. I thought. I noticed that some kid's nose was bleeding. I raised my hand to get my teacher's attention.

"Yes, Jayden?" Ms. Garcia asked.

"Henry's nose is bleeding," I said.

Ms. Garcia gasped and she hurried Henry out of the room.

"Um, hi Jayden," Rachelle blushed. She brushed aside her short blonde hair.

"Hi," I said.

"Can we talk outside?" Rachelle asked.

"Maybe later," I said, distracted by Bianca who was talking with Talia Miller.

I hopped off the risers leaving Rachelle speechless.

"Hey Bianca," I called from a distance.

Bianca smiled. "Hi Jay, Rachelle bothering you again?"

"Not really," I said.

"I saw your face." Bianca laughed. "What did she do?"

"Nothing, she just keeps looking at me," I said.

"You know, I heard from Sydney that she really likes you," Bianca said.

"She does?" I asked. "Oh great."

"Hey, Rachelle wants to talk to you," Sydney said.

I groaned. You've got to be kidding me.

"Sydney, you're a great person, don't be on Rachelle's team," Bianca urged.

"She has mental problems, my parents say that I have to," Sydney whispered.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to Rachelle. "Hey, what's up?"

Rachelle grabbed me by the hand and dragged me outside.

"Ok then."

Rachelle placed me on a tree stump. "I need to ask you something."

"What?" I asked. "I'm kind of busy."

"There's something that I've been meaning to ask you, but I was too shy," She said. Her cheeks became red. "Just answer my question."

"What is it?" I asked impatiently.

"Would you go out with somebody if they asked?" She asked.

"What?" I gasped, "As in a date?"

She nodded.

"It depends," I said.

"So would you go with me?" She asked.

I was so stunned that I was speechless.

"Is that a yes?" She squealed.

"Um, probably?" I said, unsure not realizing what was coming out of my mouth.

"Really?" She gasped.

"Maybe?" I still didn't realize what the heck I was saying.

"Oh yes oh yes oh yes oh yes," She squealed.

Bianca stared at me through the window.

I shrugged.

"Rachelle, don't tell anyone." I said.

She nodded and immediately ran into the building.

I walked after her making sure she didn't tell anybody.

"And what did he say?" Rachelle's best friend asked.

"Yes!" Rachelle screamed.

The two girls both jumped up and down.

Bianca slapped me on the back.

"Ow."

"Why would you say yes?" She snapped.

"I wasn't thinking." I said rubbing my back.

"You're going to cancel right." Bianca asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" I asked.

"Cause I know you." Bianca crossed her arms.

I was confused. "How?"

"Remember Tiana?" Bianca asked.

"You mean that girl who asked me to go for sushi with her?" I asked.

"Yeah, and did you do anything about it?"

"No." I said ashamed.

"And who canceled for you?" Bianca asked.

"You." I sighed.

Bianca scoffed and stomped off.

"You know, she's right." Sydney said.

"I know she is, but look how happy she is." I said pointing to Rachelle telling Talia.

"Yeah, she is happy, but you need to tell her." Sydney said.

"Hey, aren't you Rachelle's friend?" I asked. "Who's side are you on?"

"Bianca's." Sydney snickered.

"Um, ok then." I said.

"No but actually, tell her." Sydney said patting me on the back.

"But what will Rachelle's reaction be?" I asked.

"I'm more worried about what Chloe's reaction will be." Sydney said.

Chloe was Rachelle's best friend. She was the type of person who stood up for their friend no matter what.

"Oh great." I said.

"You don't have to do it now, when are you meeting up?" Sydney asked.

"She's going to call me later." I said. "I can tell her then."

"On call, you obviously don't understand girls." Sydney laughed.

"Well, what do you think I should do?"

"Anytime before your call." Sydney said.

I groaned. Why did I have to be so stupid?"

"Ok everyone, back to your spots." My teacher was back.

Better think of something later. I thought.

I was quiet on the way home, I didn't want to tell anybody about what just happened. I thought about what Sydney had said. What would Chloe's reaction be? Would she be ok with it, or would she be pissed off? I didn't know, but what I did know was that I didn't want to go out with Rachelle.

I got home and called Bianca right away. "Bianca, where are you."

Finally, she picked up the phone. "Oh, hey Jay."

"What would you say if you were in my position?"

"And why are you asking me this?" Bianca asked.

"Cause, you're better with words."

Bianca chuckled.

"Come one Bianca, just this once." I begged.

Bianca thought for a moment. "You need to think of what you want to say, how do you want to go through with this."

"But, I can't, I can't hurt her feelings."

"Well, that's kind of your fault Jay, shouldn't have said yes to begin with." Bianca laughed.

"I guess you're right." I sighed.

"Go, just tell her what you think." Bianca said.

I thanked her and dialed Rachelle's number. "Rachelle?"

"Oh hi Jay." Rachelle said. "Really excited for our little trip together."

"Yeah, um me too." I said nervously.

"What about you, are you excited?"

"Yeah, sure am." I said.

"Ok great, when do you want to go?" She asked, she sounded excited.

"Any day is fine really." I laughed nervously.

"How about sunday, at three?" Rachelle asked.

"Yep, sounds good." I said.

"Ok great, oh this is so exciting!" She hung up.

"Goddamnit!" I groaned.

"Jay, watch your language." My mother called from downstairs.

I decided to make one last phone call. It had to be somebody I trusted, somebody who I knew would help me. Then it hit me, Sydney was the perfect person. She would ask for both sides of the story before coming to a conclusion, and even if she thought that I was in the wrong, she wouldn't freak out at me. I dialed her number as fast as I could.

"Hello-"

"You've got to help me!" I said.

"You didn't cancel did you." She said, her voice sounded disappointing. "You're the one who brought this on yourself, maybe if you hadn't said yes you wouldn't be here."

"But what am I supposed to do?" I asked, frantically looking for an answer.

"What do you think you should do?" Sydney asked.

I sighed, "Tell her no."

"If that is truly what you want, then go ahead." Sydney said.

"But what happens if she gets mad at me?"

"She'll get over it, eventually." Sydney reashurred.

"You mean hopefully." I said.

Sydney laughed, "Your sense of humor is always there."

"That wasn't a joke, I'm being serious." I said.

"Jay, you're a great guy, just be yourself."

(Sydney)

"Thanks Sydney, means a lot." Jay hung up the phone.

"Poor guy." I said to myself. "He doesn't know what he just got himself into." I picked up my pencil and notepad and began to draw. I drew to help ease myself. Everyone always asks how I'm so calm all the time, my secret is to do things you enjoy for short amounts of time so I don't stress about things. Drawing calms me, it makes me feel like I'm creating worlds. Each drawing has a different meaning.

I wished Jay had that same feeling, maybe it would calm his nerves.

I thought about Chloe, I did know how she would react, but if I told Jay, he probably wouldn't cancel.

The thought of Chloe and Rachelle ganging up on him angered me. Why did I put up with them? They were so selfish not listening to others and only thinking that they're right. But I knew that I couldn't say that to them, they needed a friend to be a guide. To show them how to act. That's my role in our friendship. I was the role model. I had to show them how to act in different situations. My train of thought was interrupted by my phone.

I picked up my phone. Who could it be?

"Did you hear, Rachelle asked Jay to go to the mall with her, and he said yes!" Chloe's message read.

I couldn't help but laugh, I knew something they didn't. "Yeah, I heard."

"Rachelle asked if we could come, just in case." Chloe texted

"Um, when?" I messaged.

"Three, sunday." Chloe texted.

"Sorry, I'm kind of busy then, but tell me what happens." I sighed, this was going to be hard.

That night, I sat at the dinner table quietly.

"Sydney, why don't you eat your food?"

"Mom, I just have a lot to think about." I said.

"What is it, mommy can always help you."

"That's none of your business, it's kind of private." I said.

"Is it about Rachelle?" My older brother Sean asked.

"Sean, I'll tell you after." I mouthed.

Sean gave me a thumbs up.

"You can tell mommy." My mother said.

"Mom, just leave her alone for a sec." Sean said.

"She can at least tell me, I spend six hours a day working to keep you all under a roof, to provide the rice on your plate."

"Mom, we get it." Sean said.

"Can I be excused?" I asked.

"Finish your rice Sydney." My mother demanded.

I stuffed the rice in my mouth, "Now can I be excused."

"Fine." My mother groaned

I pulled Sean upstairs into my room and sat him down on my chair.

"So what's this all about?" Sean asked.

"Remember Jay?" I asked.

"You mean that shy kid that goes to your choir."

"Yeah him, anyways Rachelle asked him out and he may not have said yes."

"Rachelle, and he said yes?" Sean laughed. "I thought it was worse than that."

"What were you thinking?" I asked.

"You asked him out." Sean fell to the floor roaring with laughter.

"Ha ha, very funny." I said sarcastically.

"So let me guess, he doesn't want to go out with her." Sean said.

"Yeah, that's exactly what happened." I said.

"Then why are you stressed?" Sean asked.

"Cause I feel like I need to choose a side." I said.

"Sydney, you don't have to choose a side, just do what you think is right, do you want to back up Jay, or help crush Jay with Rachelle."

I sighed. This was a hard decision to make. I was so glad that I had Sean as an older brother, he was just so understanding. He was my role model.

"Well, thanks for telling me, you know, you should really try to solve people's problems for them, you need to let them figure it out themselves."

(Bianca)

"Phew." I said, placing my phone down. I had just finished with Rachelle who was telling me how excited she was. I could see why Jay didn't want to go hang out with her.

She tells everyone about everything.

But Jay was shy and he was obviously worried because Rachelle had a lot of friends.

"Hey Bianca."

I turned around to see Talia. "Oh, hey there."

Talia's house had burned down a couple weeks back, and my family let them come stay at our house for a bit.

I had gotten so used to it that she was starting to feel like my sister.

She was so kind, and thoughtful, I could tell her anything. She was like Sydney's brother.

"So, did Jay ever say anything to Rachelle?" She asked.

"No."

"Rachelle is such a sweetheart, Jay should give her a chance." Talia said.

"I don't get it, how can you see the light in people?" I asked. "Rachelle is just so, spoiled."

"You need to get to know her, she's just confused." Talia said sweetly.

"But she's so twisted." I said.

"Aren't you friends with her?" Talia asked, putting her hands on her hands on her waist.

"I just faked it so that she wouldn't think I was being mean."

Talia frowned.

I gulped, how could I say that. I was such an idiot. Talia wouldn't believe that Rachelle was that little monster that I knew she was.

"Just get to know her, maybe she'll change." Talia said. still frowning.

"But, but."

Talia left the room.

I felt like I had disappointed her.

I dialed Jay's number. Hopefully he would pick up.

"Hello?"

"Jay, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"Nothing, why?" Jay asked. He seemed rather confused. "Is there something wrong?"

"Meet me at Sydney��s place at twelve." I said.

"Sure, is there a specific reason or…"

"Just meet me there!" I shouted into the phone.

"Ok, I will just chill out." Jay said. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"No questions, ok?" I said.

"Fine fine." Jay said.

I hung up on him and called Sydney.

"Oh thank god you called, I've been needing to talk to you-"

"Sydney, I'm coming over tomorrow, it's about Rachelle and Jay." I said.

"Do you want me to invite Rachelle, cause if it's about them I think she should come." Sydney offered.

"Fine, just do whatever, Jay needs to tell her." I said.

"You know she's going to tell Chloe, right?" Sydney asked.

"Yes, I'm aware." I said.

"Does Jay know about this?" Sydney asked.

"He does." I answered.

"Does he know the reason why?"

"No." I said. I could hear Sydney breathing heavily through the phone like she was upset.

"You've got to tell him." Sydney said

���He will freak out once he figures out." I told her. I was worried that Jay would never tell Rachelle.

"But at least he'll be more prepared if you tell him now."

"But if I tell him what's happening then then he can't run from it." I argued. I could tell this conversation was never going to end, but I was worried he wouldn't come if I told him.

Jay was always so scared of everything, never wanted to confront people if he thought that something was wrong about what they were doing.

I sat on my bed waiting for Talia to fall asleep.

She was taking forever to fall asleep. She finally fell asleep and I hopped out of bed.

I rushed down the stairs as quietly as possible. I couldn't believe I was doing this. I took a flashlight and ran down to the basement where my grandmother lived. We weren't allowed to be down there but every now and then I would sneak down to talk with her. I opened her door slowly and creeped down the stairs. I saw her sitting on the couch watching some old musical. I tapped her on the shoulder. "Grandma Rebecca?" I said quietly.

"Oh hello Bianca, you scared me." She smiled sweetly.

"I need some advice." I said.

"So late?" She asked.

"My friend Jay, he has a problem-"

"Shhh, this is my favorite part." My grandma interrupted me.

"Please Grandma Rebecca, just listen for a second." I whispered.

"Oh ok child." She turned off the television. "What is it?"

"My friend Jay is nervous about canceling a date and he wont tell her that he doesn't want to go." I said

"Oh, do you mean that boy you speak of so fondly, he sounds like such a dear."

"Grandma." I said with gritted teeth, "Not so loud."

"Oh, I'm kidding." Grandma Rebecca laughed. "Continue Bianca."

"I set up a meeting between Jay and the girl, but my friend says I should tell him what we're actually doing now or later?" I asked.

"Well, if I were you I would tell him as soon as possible to boost his confidence and so he's prepared," She said. "And by the way you talk about him, he sounds like he will come anyways."

"Thank you grandma." I said. I creeped up the stairs and quietly went back to bed. My grandma was such a hero. She was so wise and I knew that I could trust her.

(Rachelle)

I couldn't sleep. This had been the moment I had been waiting for. Finally I was going out with Jay. I was so surprised he said yes.

He would always give me the cold shoulder whenever we spoke. But it was finally happening. I tried to pick out a dress to wear but I knew he wouldn't want me to dress formally. I decided to just wear a t-shirt and my favorite jeans.

"Rachelle Turner, go to sleep."

"Mom, I'm too excited to go to sleep." I called.

"What are you doing?" My mom opened the door.

"Nothing." I said giggling.

"Is it about that boy again?" My mom asked. "He sounds like a real idiot, why would he give the cold shoulder to my little angel."

"Mom, I'm going out with him." I said.

"Yes, you've only been talking about it for the whole day." My mom laughed. "But don't be surprised if he cancels on you."

"He won't, I know him, he isn't like that." I said.

"He's been ignoring you for the past couple years, I think that he might." My mom said.

"Whatever mom, he won't, he's such a sweetheart." I said.

"Well, go to sleep." My mom said.

"Good night." I said.

My mom closed the door.

I reached for my pen and paper. "The book of magic" was my little fantasy. I had asked Jay to give me a character. Little did he know, I had made the character who represented me fall in love with his character.

"A.N sat on K.M's lap, the two of them giggled as they shared an apple O.F had found in the woods."

I smiled as I continued writing. I had wanted to join Jay in the writing career cause that was all he talked about. What would Silvia do next or how would Alexander react. He enjoyed writing so I thought if I got onto the same track as him, he would notice me more. It got his attention, but he talked to me like a business partner, not a friend.

I knew after this date, he would never look at me the same. I could only fantasize what could happen after.

"A.N took K.M and hugged him tightly, K.M smiled and hugged her back. A.N loved K.M with all her heart. She didn't care she was on a quest, she just wanted K.M to be with her."

I was content with what I wrote. I knew that Jay would kill me if he saw this. But that didn't matter, I just wanted to write my fantasy.

I fell asleep with my pen still in my hand. I dreamed of me and Jay talking about life at the mall, it was so beautiful and I wanted to stay there. Then I saw Bianca, I waved at her. But I realized that Jay was also waving. He called to her enthusiastically and asked her if she wanted to join us. My day was ruined. I told Jay that it was just about the two of us but he refused to listen.

He took Bianca's hand and ran off with her.

This wasn't real, it couldn't be real. How could this happen. My heart was crushed.

I woke up all of a sudden. Sweat dripped down my forehead. I could hear my cat meowing in the distance. It wasn't real, I told myself But it could happen. I was so frightened. I just hoped that Jay wouldn't do that to me, but what if my mom was right.

He could cancel and he would never talk to me again. No, if he did, I would get him to talk to me. I wouldn't let him see the light of day again. He needed to know that I was not to be messed with. I was a Turner, and Turner's don't take no for an answer.

That morning, I got ready to meet Sydney. She had invited me to her house. I took the liberty to ask Chloe to come with me.

Chloe met me at my house. "Did Sydney tell you why she wanted us to meet her?"

"No, why?" I asked.

"Come on Rachelle, you can tell me."

"I'm being serious, she never told me." I said.

"That's not like Sydney." Chloe said.

"I know right," I said.

"I guess we'll find out when we get there." Chloe said.

"Yep." I opened the door, "Let's go."